The death of my dad was a traumatic event in my life, leading me to realize the value of the lessons he taught me when I was young. .
Ten years prior to the death of my father, he was diagnosed with colon cancer. The doctors told him the tumor could not be removed due to other health complications. At that point it was a matter of just giving him one month, if we were lucky. I was 12 years old at the time, and was given permission to stay at the hospital with him to spend, as everyone said, "his last moments". Seeing my father, who was 6'2, 185 lbs., lying in bed only weighing about 90 lbs. was a shock to me. The once strong man looked so fragile and pale, hardly recognizable. .
Because of his condition, I began to cry as soon as I walked into his hospital room. It was at that time when my dad taught me my first life lesson. He said, "If you are going to stay here with me I want no crying; I need you to be strong so that I can be stronger and to have faith that everything is going to be okay. If you can't do this you will not be able to stay here". It was then I realized if I did not do as he said, I would not be able to stay with him. With a heavy heart, I assured him I would be okay and strong for him. I learned to care for him in his condition by giving him ice chips, moisturizing his lips with the damped cotton swabs, and massaging him to ease his pain. I did not have time to think of my pain and fear of losing him. I did what he said and stayed strong with courage and, most importantly, in faith. My father beat the odds and fully recovered.
A near death experience of a loved one certainly has a way to immediately appreciate that person and life. After his illness, I spent as much time as possible with my dad, enjoying his presence. Strength was not the only lesson I learned from my dad. He also showed me the importance of family. He was always such a giver and never a taker.